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Spotlight On...
Kelly O'Keefe, MD, University of South Florida's Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director
Tell us a little bit about your medical education background:
My undergraduate experience was at the United States Air Force Academy, which is a little different than most program directors. I was awarded an HPSP scholarship, and I attended the University of Miami School of Medicine. I did one year of internal medicine at Geisinger in Pennsylvania after not matching through the couples match, followed by the three year EM residency there. Geisinger was my top choice, and I was fortunate to end up there, even if it was a circuitous route. I am sure that the additional year of training was very beneficial to me anyway. I was the Chief Resident as an EM 3. After finishing my residency, I completed the ACEP Teaching Fellowship in Dallas.
How long have you been involved in resident education? And what positions?
Six months after I finished my training, I assumed the associate director position at the combined Army- Air Force program in San Antonio. That's just the way the military works…. I later became the co-director, with Al Morgan. I left San Antonio after 5 years to finish my military commitment in Florida. I came to Tampa General in 1999 as the medical director, and started the residency here in 2003.
What do you feel is the most rewarding part of being a Program Director?
Seeing young people come in with little true emergency experience and knowledge, and graduate 3 years later as seasoned veterans, who I know will make a difference for the patients they treat, and for our specialty. Being privileged to be involved in such an important manner in their lives and careers is an awesome responsibility and pleasure. It gives me a sense of impacting that many more patients as well.
What is the worst part about being a Program Director?
Being involved so closely with all these residents…. :)
Seriously, there have been several tough times over the years, including a resident suicide, and having to suggest (firmly) to dedicated and smart, caring individuals that maybe they made the wrong career choice. The good stuff outweighs the bad by far, though.
What is one thing your residents would be shocked to know about you?
I really am a nice guy? That my kids really do love me? That I really do have the residents' best interests in mind?
My wife and I coach two young children's soccer teams in our spare (?) time, and we don't make them read 200 pages of soccer manuals a month.
I think my residents know most things about me already. What you see is what you get. I hate to hold anything back- that way they can't blackmail me later. I try to provide a reasonable example of what I would like them to do and be, and hope it works.
Why should an applicant be interested in your program?
As a young program, we are open to meeting needs and providing opportunities. While we are new here, our leadership has been doing this residency thing for quite a while, and we have good ideas of where we need to head as a group. TGH / USF is a great place to train, and who wouldn't want to live in Tampa for a few years? Anyone that does come here is guaranteed an excellent clinical experience, with a strong academic base.
What does your program offer that is different from other programs?
We offer a combination of items that should attract a lot of different folks. We have a leadership curriculum, and will send our residents to courses to help them become medical directors of EDs. We have a unique administrative rotation planned that will prepare them for the business aspects of EM better than anything else I know of. We also have an ultrasound certification program, and provide opportunities for an international medical experience.
How many applications did you have last year?
We have received about 600 applications for our six slots this year. I am not sure what that means, given the ease of applying through ERAS, but we are happy to see all of them.
If you could give one piece of advice to interested applicants, what would it be?
Work hard, be honest, and take care of your family. If you do these things first, everything else will fall into place.